Globally, studies show that women in the labour force are paid less, hold fewer senior positions and participate less in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. A 2019 UNESCO report found that women represent only 29% of science R&D positions globally and are already 25% less likely than men to know how to leverage digital technology for basic uses.  

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2022 and in conjunction with the launch of the joint report by UNESCO-IDB-OECD “The effects of Artificial Intelligence on the working lives of women”, this virtual panel discussion will map the unique opportunities and challenges that AI presents for the working lives of women and address the three overarching topics highlighted in the report:  

• The changing skills requirements in the labour market; 
• The effects of AI on women entering the labour force; and,   
• The impacts of AI on women’s work environment and career progression. 

The discussion will be based on UNESCO, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)’s new joint report “The Effects of AI on the Working Lives of Women”. The report is intended to raise general awareness of the disruptions of AI during the workforce lifecycle from a gender perspective. 

Moderated by Gina Neff, Executive Director of the Minderoo Centre for Technology & Democracy at the University of Cambridge and Professor of Technology & Society at the University of Oxford, Member of the Women4AI Daring Circle.